Library Service in a World of Social Change – Let’s talk about Hope

Competency: Organizational Leadership Sub-Category: Understands the social, political and economic context in which the library exists

From the opiate and methamphetamine crisis, to the effects of generational poverty, to the struggles our local schools have with their funding, not to mention our own library funding issues, it would be easy to start to believe that we only have negatives, and that our world is in a downward spiral.

Can a library truly make a difference in all of these areas? How does the library fit into what has been traditionally thought of as “social work”? Join this webinar and for an uplifting conversation about hope and the role of libraries in today’s ever changing world. Be part of the conversation and take away a fresh outlook on the work we do every day.

In this webinar, participants will:

• Explore social issues and their effect on libraries
• Learn ways to positively embrace both challenges and change
• Focus on defining the issues that matter to libraries
• Create plans to refresh staff and tackle community problems with leadership and light

Kathy Zappitello~ Biography

Kathy has worked for thirteen years in Ohio libraries and is currently the Executive Director of the Conneaut Public Library in Conneaut, Ohio. Kathy also works as a producer, writer, actor, and director for one of Ohio’s cable access channels that provides programming to households in Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. Kathy is also a member of the board of Trustees of the Northeast Ohio Regional Library System and is a proud board member of the Association for Rural and Small Libraries.